Conveyer-chain.



WILLIALI M. WILLIAMS, OF COVELO, CALIFORNIA.

CONVEYER-GI-IAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed April 26, 1916. Serial N 0. 93,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM M. VVIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covelo, in the county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer-Chains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention is a conveyer chain more particularly adapted for use with the feeder mechanism of threshing machines.

In most of the machines used for threshing, the feeder is provided with a series of chains on which are mounted spaced strips of wood. It has been found in practice that wet, moist and damp weather'serves to prevent the operation of the machine. Sometimes this period of inoperation extends over two and three days. This, of course, means a loss of time during the threshingperiod and it is well known when wheat or the like grain is ripe, that time is a very essential factor in its harvesting. Delays-mean loss. Delays extending over a period of two or three days, especially when the weather is unsettled and more or less dampness in the air, the wheat is liable to ferment and spoil, which naturally means a loss to the farmer, hence when the grain is ripe, it should be harvested and threshed immediately.

The invention aims to eliminate the wood strips or laths commonly used.

Another aim is to provide a conveyer chain which will not be subjected to weather conditions and thereby rendered inoperative.

A still further aim is to provide a chain which will positively carry the stalks and heads to the concave.

An object of the invention is also to provide a chain which will operate in a groove in the under surface of the table, certain links of the chain being so formed that they project above the upper surface of the table to carry the grain over to the concave.

To accomplish these various aims and objects, the invention broadly comprises a conveyer chain having a plurality of links, certain of said links being composed of a single strip of material bent to form recurved ends, one of said ends projecting angularly from the body portion, the other end terminating adjacent the juncture of the upstanding member and the body portion, thereby forming a slot centrally of the link, the upstand ing member being wider than the body portion of the link.

A practical form and method of using the nvention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a bottom plan View of a feeder table; Fig. 2 is a part longitudinal sectional view of the table and chain on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective -view of one of the links; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the link; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view to show a groove and a link of the chain, the groove and link being reversed.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a table 5 which is provided on its under surface with longitudinal grooves 6. Thesegrooves terminate at one end in a plurality of slots 7. The grooves 6 are of suflicient depth to provide a run-way for the bodies of the links of the chain so that they will travel beneath the surface of the table 5. Five grooves are shown, but any number may be used which will accomplishthe purpose.

. The conveyer chain is preferably composed of a plurality of different kinds of links, one form of link 8 being shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This particular type of link is preferably formed from one piece of metal, as shown in F ig. 4. The flat bearing portion 9 is adapted to contact or engage with the bottom of one of the grooves 6. At each end of the link, the material is so bent that a semi-circular end is produced. The bending over produces a slotted top side 10 or top member and is disposed in the same parallel plane as 8 and 9, as shown in Fig. 4. The free edge 11 of the link is spaced from the other top member 12. Projecting angularly from the top member 12 is an upstanding member 13. This member 13 is preferably made wider than the top member 12, which constitutes one portion of the body of the link. Where the top member effects a juncture with the member 12, there may be provided suitable shoulders 14. These shoulders adapt the upstanding member to ride or travel on the under surface of the table 5, while the body portions of the link travel in the groove 6.

The links 8 may be drawn together in any suitable manner, one of which is shown by the connecting link 15 to form or make the chain of an endless type. In order to cause these chains to travel in their respeetive grooves, there may be provided the usual or customary sprocket wheels 16, which are shown disposed at each end of the table. These sprockets may be mounted in their usual spaced relation on suitable shafts 17 and 18, as shown.

The top of the table is preferably smooth and covered with some relatively hard material, such as sheet iron indicated by the numeral 19, as shown in Fig. 2. This will provide a good bearing surface and will also give the table a perfectly flat surface between its ends.

hen several chains are assembled upon their sprocket wheels, in cooperative relation with the grooves and the top of the table, the body portions of the links and of the connecting links will run or travel in the grooves formed in the bottom or under surface of the table. The upstanding members will rest upon the surface of the table and engage with and travel against that surface by means of the shoulders. On the upper surface of the table, the under surfaces of the several links will travel upon this hard substance of sheet iron. This will prevent the carrying of grain to the under surface of the table into the grooves. By this assembly of links having upstanding portions, there may be produced by their alinement with each other, a series of interrupted trays extending transversely of the table. The chains being formed preferably of metal, eliminate the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere which in connection with conveyer chains, provided with wooden strips or rods, renders these chains inoperative during damp weather. This is a material advantage over machines in use.

It may be found from practical experience and use that lessening the spaces between the lateral edges of the spaced upstanding members will be productive of a better result, Thus there may be formed an almost continuous trough extending transversely of the chain which would con-' vey the material in a more positive manner to the concave and in such quantities as would be readily beaten.

Minor changes in form and details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a feeder, including a table provided with longitudinal grooves and slots in its under face, conveyer chains comprising a plurality of links whose body portions and connecting link are adapted to travel in the grooves and through the slots, certain of the links of the chains being provided with a centrally positioned upstanding member wider than the grooves, so that said members by means of an engaging shoulder are adapted to travel on the under face of the table to form a plurality of interrupted troughs extending transversely of the chains.

2. In combination with a feeder including a table provided with an elongated groove, a conveyer chain comprising a plurality of links adapted to travel in the groove, certain of the links of the chain being provided with a centrally positioned upstanding member wider than the groove whereby said member is adapted to travel along the face of the table provided with the groove.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

FRANK HARRINGTON, LUCY E. MONTGOMERY.

Sopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

